The Sun is 93 million miles away from the Earth for a reason.
The Sun is driven by nuclear fusion.
Before the City of Madison is “thrilled” by the prospect of a Nuclear Fusion facility within its City Limits, I want the Mayor and the Common Council and the Engineering Department and anyone remotely responsible for approving such a facility to explain nuclear fusion to me so that I not only understand the technology, I also believe beyond the shadow of a doubt they have any idea what they’re talking about.
A Nuclear Fusion facility one mile from the Governor’s Mansion, two miles from the Dane County International Airport, three miles from the State Capitol Building, four miles from the main campus of the University of Wisconsin and seven miles from my home demands such a level of fact and proof and cannot be replaced by mere euphemism, speculation or intentions.
The same City Government that racks up one administrative touchdown after another such as the ever popular BRT System; an Imagination Center when homeowners cannot imagine how they will pay their property taxes; refuses to fund body cameras for the police department when municipalities a fraction of the size have no trouble doing so; subsidizes ice rinks when lakes are frozen half the year and savages traffic thoroughfares in deference to bicycle riders who don’t ride when the streets are frozen anyway; cannot open a homeless shelter or a public market on schedule or on budget, that City Government now applauds placement of a Nuclear Fusion facility within City Limits and would beg the public to believe it to be a ‘fail safe’ operation providing nothing but benefits economic or otherwise.
Even developers might find exception to the logic, if there is any.
“Here’s a beautiful property for sale.”
“I hear there’s a nuclear fusion facility going in.”
“It’s perfectly safe.”
“What about high voltage transmission lines?”
“It’s perfectly safe.”
“I don’t know if I want to spend over half a million dollars for a home and then look out my window at a million volt transmission tower.”
“It’s perfectly safe.”
“Will flight paths be affected? I don’t suppose they’ll want aircraft over the area.”
“It’s perfectly safe.”
“They say the city will offer tax breaks to the nuclear fusion company. Why are my taxes and my utility rates going up?”
“We’re thrilled to have a nuclear fusion facility in Madison.”
“What if something goes wrong?”
“What could go wrong? The same area is already being developed for offices, manufacturing, creative work and apartments. Besides, the actual nuclear fusion apparatus could be built off site.”
“How far off site? What if you place offices here and can’t get permits to build nuclear fusion apparatus elsewhere? You won’t do that, will you? You’ll get it all sewn up before you announce anything to the public, no matter how many public meetings are held.”
“It’s perfectly safe.”
“Your investors may think so. City officials and staff on payroll may think so, but nobody in City Hall knew Oscar Mayer would leave Madison the day before it happened and it happened anyway.”
“You’re spreading fear and doubt. It’s bad for business. It’s bad for Madison.”
“I appreciate your concern. Far be it from me to stand in the way of progress, but nobody ever died of radiation poisoning from close proximity to a hot dog.